By Salman Siddiqui/Staff Reporter


Pakistan’s Ambassador to Qatar Sarfraz A Khanzada made a farewell call on HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday.
The Heir Apparent  presented a medal to the ambassador on the occasion. “We briefly spoke about the improved bilateral relations between Pakistan and Qatar during my tenure, which HH appreciated highly,” the outgoing envoy said.
Ambassador Khanzada’s term in Qatar will end on March 31. After serving for around two years as Pakistan’s top diplomat in Doha, he received his transfer orders to Sudan. He is scheduled to fly out with his family on April 1.
Khanzada’s successor has been named and accepted by Qatar.  Syed Hassan Raza is expected to assume office as the new ambassador in Doha on April 2.
Earlier, a section of the press had termed Khanzada’s transfer as “out of the blue” since he was being moved after two instead of the normal three years. However, in a recent interview with Gulf Times, Khanzada had rubbished the claims and clarified that it was a “totally normal routine transfer for any foreign service officer”.
Khanzada in the interview had said that his major achievements as ambassador was not only in further warming up of bilateral relations, but also the fact that many high level visits from Pakistan, including that of the prime minister and the president occurred during his tenure. Also more than 4,000 Pakistanis were able to secure Qatari job visas.

Aspetar signs
sponsorship deal
with Al Shaqab

Aspetar - Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, a member-organisation of Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF), has signed an agreement with Al Shaqab to be the official sports medicine sponsor for CHI Al Shaqab 2013.
The first edition of the international equestrian competition is being held from March 27 to 30 at Al Shaqab’s state-of-the-art facilities at Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development.
Awarded CHI status by the FEI (International Equestrian Federation), the four-day equestrian event comprises an assortment of world-class show-jumping, dressage and endurance events, and will attract top riders from around the globe.
Fahad bin Saad al-Qahtani, Al Shaqab director and CHI Al Shaqab president, said: “Aspetar is the ideal partner for a sporting event of this calibre. Having Aspetar as a partner reassures not only the local organising committee but also the riders taking part in the event, as they will be in the hands of some of the world’s finest physicians and surgeons.”
Aspetar CEO Dr Khalifa al-Kuwari, said, “Aspetar has a wealth of experience in providing medical coverage to international events held in Qatar. It’s a privilege for us to provide our comprehensive medical services to CHI Al Shaqab for its inaugural event. Al Shaqab and Aspetar share similar values such as the importance of leading the way and pursuing excellence.”
“I can say without any hesitation that Al Shaqab’s world-class riding champions are in the hands of some of the world’s leading sports medicine practitioners,” he added.
A dedicated 17,000sqm spectator plaza designed to celebrate Qatar’s rich heritage in equine culture and sports will boast of an assortment of family-orientated activities.
CHI Al Shaqab 2013 is being held under the patronage of HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad al-Thani and HE Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.
Aspetar joins QF Radio and ExxonMobil as official sponsors of CHI Al Shaqab 2013.

Msheireb Properties receives offers to build phase 3

Msheireb Properties has received commercial offers for the contract to build phase 3 of its $20bn real estate development in Doha, Meed has said in a report.
The third phase of the mixed-use project includes the construction of some 14 buildings covering an area of 148,800 sq m.
The buildings will comprise a 192-room hotel, an office building, a mosque, health centre and 10 residential buildings, Meed said.
The local HBK Contracting has been awarded the contract for the raft foundation works for the third phase of the project. This is the second contract HBK has been awarded on the Msheireb development.
In 2010, the local contractor, in joint venture with South Korea’s Hyundai Engineering & Construction Company was awarded the deal to build Phase 1a of the project.  
In December 2011, the joint venture of the UK’s Carillion and the local Qatar Building Company was awarded a QR2.37bn contract to build phase 1b.
The joint venture of Canada’s Brookfield Multiplex and the local Medgulf Construction won the contract to build phase 1c in September last year, Meed said.

Indian Property Show opens today

The Indian Property Show, organised by Dubai-based Sumansa Exhibitions, will be inaugurated by Indian ambassador to Qatar Sanjiv Arora at 10. 30 am at La Cigale Hotel today.
The two-day event, according to the organisers, features many unique attractions other than the expo. The exhibition has more than 1,000 properties of over 50 builders to be showcased.
Today the organisers are hosting a session in which a Mumbai High Court lawyer Ajit Jakhadi will answer queries on legal issues involved in property transactions in India.
This will be held between 4 and 5 in the afternoon. They said the lawyer has a reputation of helping solving numerous problems in the real estate transactions and will deliberate on such issues as owners rights, risk mitigation etc.
The visitors could have one-to-one discussions with Jakhadi,  according to the organisers.
Between 5 and  6 pm, a session on Vaastu is also planned.
Padmaja Yadav, a well-known Vaastu consultant will address topics concerning home interiors and Vaastu such as its role in choosing properties, identifying Vaastu friendly properties, applying Vaastu for success in life along with ideas on decorating the corners at home, tips on space saving in apartments etc.

 

Qatar-Japan
ties discussed

HE the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani yesterday discussed with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida bilateral relations  and a set of issues of mutual concern.
Over a phone conversation, the two sides also reviewed the latest arrangements of the International Conference on Reconstruction and Development of Darfur, due to be held in Doha in April.  
The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister also held talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se over the phone yesterday.
They reviewed bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern.
They also discussed the latest arrangements of the Darfur international donors conference, due to take place in Doha in April.

Conference on
social sciences

The Doha-based Arab Centre for Research and Policy Studies (ACRPS) will convene the second Annual Conference on the Social Sciences and Humanities in Doha tomorrow.
The two-day event will address two specific themes: “The Dialectic of Social Integration and the Building of Nation and State in the Arab Homeland” and the “Definition of Justice in the Arab Homeland today”.
ACRPS general director Dr Azmi Bishara will deliver the opening remarks at this year’s event. The ACRPS conference will bring together a select group of relevant academics and scholars as well as a number of college deans in the Arts and Social Sciences from a number of Arab universities.